Another Athlete Gets Popped

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“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” — Jim Rohn

Following Up

Emily Abbott Responds to Drug Violation and Four-Year Ban

Remind me.

Yesterday, CrossFit announced that Emily Abbott, who won the West Regional back in May, failed her drug test and received a four-year ban from competing in any CrossFit sanctioned event. 

In a press release sent out yesterday, Abbott exonerated herself and accused CrossFit of disregarding her “explanation and imposed the maximum possible sanction, without even granting her a hearing.”

So what’d she have to say?

In the release she wrote:

“I am beyond disappointed and frustrated that the organization I have dedicated so much of my life to has basically ignored my explanation for my inadvertent exposure to ibutamoren. I have proudly represented the sport as an advocate of clean eating and a healthy lifestyle, and would never knowingly take any banned substance. I strongly disagree with this unfair decision, and will be exploring all of my options.”

So what’s next?

TBD. Emily told us, “More to come. I am working with my lawyers right now.”

While you were talking about Emily Abbott…

Lauren Shawver of Salt Lake City CrossFit was popped for Ostarine and got slapped with a four-year ban. Her third place team is being replaced by Team Backcountry Black. That brings the total to 14 athletes. 

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Who run da world?

Coffee Break Conversations

What to tell your annoying neighbors when they’re up all night…

Don’t be a nuisance. The Hermosa Beach City Council deemed CrossFit Horsepower a public nuisance at their last meeting, due to noise complaints, allowing for possible future measures that could include suspending the business’ license. CrossFit Horsepower has been working with the city to find a solution since May, but the city council is combing back together August 28 to discuss possible abatement measures.

What to tell your coach when he’s got you riding the bench all season…

Put me in coach. Being the last player picked on the basketball court is the worst, but not when you’re going to the CrossFit Games. With all those DQs going around, bubble athletes have been getting a second chance to prove they’re the fittest. Meredith Root replaced Emily Abbott in the West, Frederik Aegidius replaced Andrey Ganin in Europe, Samurai Team replaces Team Colombia Parceros, and CrossFit Galiléô replaces CrossFit Valley Road. 

Things To…

WATCH: Tia-Clair Toomey Gets Ready 

Watch as reigning Fittest Woman on Earth trains for the 2018 CrossFit Games. The WOD Life captures Tia-Clair Toomey and her husband and coach, Shane Orr, as they work together to defend her title. P.S. We got the link right this time 🙂 

WATCH THIS.

HEAR: From Addiction to the Affiliate Cup

Michael Cazayoux, two-time affiliate cup champion and co-founder of Brute Strenth, joins the EPIC Meatcast to discuss his battle with drug addiction, his biggest coaching mistake, and why Brute athletes train the mind before all else.

TUNE IN.

BUY: Get Two Free Ribeyes + Bacon

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IT’S GRILLIN’ SEASON.

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Chalk Up Community

• VOTED BEST OF — Sturgis CrossFit was just named the best in the Black Hills by the readers of the Rapid City Journal. If you’ll be in town for the 78th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally check them out. 
• FIT AND FUN FOR LUNGS — This Saturday, July 21 join CrossFit Fireborne in Rockville, Maryland for the #JAIMESTRONG campaign to raise funds for the Lungevity Foundation and ALK Positive Outreach. For every $10 donated, the coaches will do one burpee. Make ’em sweat! 
• CROSSFIT AND COLD BREW — Former California regional athlete Trent Simmons started his own homemade iced coffee line called Machine Brew, and they’re taking orders!
• FIRE CHIEF MEMORIAL WOD –– Beer City Crossfit in Asheville, NC hosted a memorial WOD on Saturday for the family of Captain Jeff Bowen who died in 2011 while helping people escape from a fire at a medical office building.
• BATTLE IN THE BURG — More than 250 athletes came out to participate in the Battle in the Burg, hosted by CrossFit Little Egypt in Harrisburg, OH. Five states were represented with more than 85 teams present. 

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES (a highlight reel around social media of CrossFit pros and average joes)

Meredith Root prepares for the 2018 CrossFit Games now that Emily Abbott is out • Tiffany Eickhoff, who has cerebral palsy, drags a tire • Beaux Dyson gets a 410 pound deadlift PR • Kenzie Riley is excited to see Meredith Root at the Games • Alex Parker is excited too • Patrick Vellner and Michele Letendre continue to prepare for the Games • Roman Khrennikov hits sets of 8 unbroken push jerks at 265 pounds • Kathleen Winters hits a 290 pound deadlift PR • Kara Saunders changed her Instagram handle…hello @karasaundo. 

…and how old were you when you found out the game “Tag” stands for “touch and go”? Be honest. 

WOD for Thai Hero — Thirty-eight-year-old Thai Navy SEAL Saman Gunan delivered oxygen tanks to the trapped boys and their coach but ran out of oxygen for himself on the trip out of the cave system. CrossFit Chiang Mai is launching their own Hero WOD dedicated to the man, and on August 11 everyone is invited to participate. 

New Personal Record for Knapp — Stephanie Knapp came away with sixth place in the 63kg category at the British Weightlifting Championships in Coventry, where she was able to record a 67kg/147 pound snatch and 93kg/205 pound clean and jerk, giving her a competition personal best total at 160kg/252 pounds.

A Fast Learner — After only two years of CrossFit, 14-year-old Kelsey Heibeck is preparing for the 2018 Games.  “A lot of people that do this have done it for a long time,” Heibeck said, “and some don’t understand how it was possible this is my second year with it because they’ve done it for four or five years already.”

“Emily Abbott Failed Drug Test, Including Nine Other Athletes” by Justin LoFranco, Morning Chalk Up

CrossFit HQ just announced that Emily Abbott tested positive for Ibutamoren, a SARM compound with powerful anabolic properties including boosting growth hormone levels without increasing. While Ibutamoren isn’t named on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substance list, human growth hormones are.

Emily has received a four year ban from competing in any CrossFit sanctioned event, which means she won’t be eligible to compete until the 2023 season, which is effectively a five-season ban.

Sixth place finisher, Meredith Root will be taking her place.

Nooooo not Emily?

Sad but true. At the end of June, we started hearing rumors that Emily Abbott was in the process of appealing a failed drug test administrated after she won the West Regional on May 27, 2018.

After repeated attempts to get in touch with her, Emily has been unresponsive.

At 29-years-old, Abbott will be 34 by the time her ban is lifted.

7/21: Second Annual Summer Showdown (Nicholasville, KY)

7/21: Swole Wars II (Burleson, TX)

7/21: Sacred Pines Invitational (Ladson, SC)

7/21: Battle at the BallPark (Peoria, IL) 

7/21: Summer Partner Throwdown (Hammond, LA)

7/21: The Freedom Games (Greenwood, SC)

7/21: The Duel: Competitor vs. Cancer (Nevada, IA)

7/21 – 7/22: The Rubicon (Centerton, AR)

7/21 – 7/22: Fit Nation Thunderdome (Fort Myers, FL)

7/22: Iceland with VoyEdge RX

7/28: Garage Girls Hard Core Fit (Watkinsville, GA) 

7/28: Garage Girls CrossFit HardCore (Boca Raton, FL) 

7/28: AZ FitCom Competition (Phoenix, AZ)

7/28: Summer Knights Showdown (Springfield, IL)

7/28: Savage Wolves CrossFit Classic (Nazareth, PA)

7/28 – 7/29: CF Summer Circus (Des Moines, IA)

7/29: Summer Sizzle (Wadsworth, OH) 

7/30: Legends of Lebo (Pittsburgh, PA)

8/4: Lumberjack Lift Off (Buckley, WA) 

8/4: G-Town Throwdown (Georgetown, MA) 

8/4: US National Parks Tour with VoyEdge RX

8/4: War at the Shore (Neptune City, NJ)

8/5: Sure Shot Shootout (Greenville, OH)

8/11: Red Raider Backyard Brawl (Coatesville, PA)

8/11: 2018 Rimrock Ruckus (Billings, MT)

8/11: Survival Games 2018 (Wooster, OH)

8/11: The Warhorse Games (Kansas City, KS)

8/18: Bladium CrossFit Fossil Games (Denver, CO) 

​8/18: The Revolution: Articles of Confederation (San Antonio, TX)

8/18: Summer Slam Royal Rumble (Oakdale, CA)

8/18: CrossFit Krypton’s Compete for a Cure (Chesapeake, VA)

8/18: CrossFit Endure Granite Games Throwdown (Windsor, CO)

8/18: MKT CrossFit Granite Games Throwdown (Columbia, MO)

8/18: Rocky Mountain Throwdown (Fort Collins, CO) 

8/18: Crossfit Krypton’s Compete for a Cure (Chesapeake, VA)

​8/18: Mayhem on the Mountain (Pelham, AL)